Effective preparation for an inspector's visit

Sarmatia Risk Control has been operating in Lublin since May 2017. Since then, we have handled 83 different cases related to inspections in local restaurants and service points. We know that officials check every corner, and most problems are caused by a lack of up-to-date entries in the documentation. One small mistake in the temperature log can stop kitchen work for 3 days. This is a concrete loss of money that every owner wants to avoid. We check everything before the office does.

The HACCP book is not just a regular binder on a shelf gathering dust. Sanepid always verifies if what was written there matches the reality in the premises. In 2023, we improved sanitary documentation for 24 catering establishments in the Lublin voivodeship. We catch errors in descriptions of technological processes and simplify procedures. It often turns out that old rules were too complicated and employees did not understand them. We make sure no one has to invent anything for the inspector.

We review the technical condition of the premises as if we were receiving it for use ourselves. We check the condition of gaskets in refrigerators, cleanliness of ventilation grilles, and certificates for finishing materials. In March 2024, we helped a small bakery where the inspector questioned the lack of a separate sink for washing vegetables in a specific zone. We found a solution consistent with the regulations that cost the owner 420 PLN instead of the planned renovation for 5,000 PLN. Offices don't wait, so we act quickly and on point.

The presence of our consultant during an inspection completely changes the way the conversation is conducted. We know exactly what the official can ask and what documents need to be shown immediately. Inspectors see that the company takes the regulations seriously. In 2022, Sarmatia Risk Control participated in 14 intervention inspections triggered by reports. In 11 cases, the case ended without a fine, only with a warning and a short deadline for technical improvements. The end of stress with inspections starts with order in the papers.

If a fine has already been issued, we immediately check its legal basis. Often administrative penalties are imposed without maintaining proper procedures or with a wrong interpretation of regulations. Since 2018, SRC has prepared 37 appeals against Sanepid decisions. We effectively reduced the imposed penalties by a total of 42,600 PLN for our clients from Lublin and the surrounding area. We analyze the inspection protocol line by line, looking for official errors. Every zloty saved from a penalty remains in your company's budget.

One thing is worth remembering: check your employees' sanitary health certificates at least 12 days before they expire. Forgetting these deadlines is the most common reason for easy fines that can be avoided in 5 minutes of a regular document review.